System and method for controlling bus-networked devices via an open field bus

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling bus-networked devices, the system including a gateway, an open field bus electrically connected to the gateway, and a first power supply unit electrically connected to the gateway and configured to supply primary power for the gateway and a plurality of bus subscribers. An auxiliary power supply unit is included configured to supply auxiliary power for the plurality of bus subscribers independent of bus functionality. A pluggable connection cable is included configured to electrically connect the gateway to the plurality of bus subscribers and configured to transmit the primary and the auxiliary power and at least one of control information and status information between the gateway and the plurality of bus subscribers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C.§371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2007/006017, filed Jul. 6,2007. The International Application was published in German on Jan. 15,2009 as WO 2009/006916 A1 under PCT Article 21 (2).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and a method for controllingbus-networked devices with a gateway via an open field bus.

The subject matter comprises, in particular, the data-technicalnetworking, the subscriber configuration of the devices and the electricsupply of the devices with power. Typical devices are industrialswitching devices such as contactors, motor starters, power switches andmeasuring sensors as well as similar devices.

BACKGROUND

In electric installations, the above-mentioned industrial switchingdevices and others are normally operated or monitored centrally by meansof a control system, for instance, by means of a programmable logiccontroller (PLC). Typically, the switching devices are connected to thecontrol unit (e.g. the PLC) via the control wiring lines. As a rule,this control unit comprises the lines that can turn the switchingdevice, here preferably a contactor, on and off, and that, at the sametime, provide the requisite power for operating the switching device andit comprises lines that return the signals from the switching device tothe control unit for monitoring purposes. Examples of signals formonitoring a switching device, here especially a motor starter, are thestatus of the contactor switching position (ON/OFF) or the status of themotor circuit breaker (ON/tripped).

When an electric installation (for instance, a switch cabinet) is beingset up, the wiring and interconnection of the electric switching deviceswith the control system are usually done manually, typically byelectricians. This work can often be a very time-consuming part of theset-up of the switch cabinet. Moreover, the wiring via many similarcontrol lines is error-prone since, for example, they can beinadvertently mixed up when they are laid in the cable conduits, as aresult of which they might be connected to terminals of the wrongdevices. Furthermore, the control lines have to be laid to theindividual switching devices in order to be electrically connectedthere. This calls for additional work to the effect that cable conduitsfor laying the lines have to be specifically cut to length and mountedon the assembly plate, and the individual control lines can then be laidin these cable conduits.

The devices may be interconnected between a bus and other components ofa system. European patent application EP 0 779 640 A2 describes, forinstance, the use of bus-compatible amplifier modules for driveassemblies of electric switching devices. The electromagnetic orelectronic amplifier assembly is connected via an interface circuit tobus connectors and, on the one hand, to feed current connectors and, onthe other hand, to drive connectors. The interface circuit is configuredto be bidirectional or unidirectional. Moreover, switching means areprovided for signals that are to be taken over from the bus for settingparameters of the amplifier module and/or of the switching device aswell as switching means for picking up signals that are to betransmitted to the bus about the states of the amplifier module and/orof the switching device.

Regarding coupling to a bus, European patent application EP 0 637 784 A1describes a module that is provided with a bus coupler which, on the onehand, is connected to a contact system for the electric and mechanicalconnection to the bus and, on the other hand, to an electronicevaluation unit for the programmed processing of measured signals orstate information as well as for issuing switch-off commands, wherebythe measured signals or state information are fed via the bus. Themodule itself can construct switch-off commands by processing themeasured signals and then relaying them to the tripping system for acircuit breaker.

German patent application DE 101 47 442 A1 describes a method and adevice as well as a control unit for monitoring a bus system having atleast three subscribers, whereby one subscriber is configured as thesuperordinated subscriber and it initiates every data transmission tothe bus system. A second subscriber is configured as an element of alocking system of a lockable interior of a vehicle, while a thirdsubscriber is configured so as to be outside of the lockable interior ofa vehicle. The first subscriber monitors the data transmission in such away that, in at least one operating state of the vehicle and/or the bussystem, the first subscriber initiates measures to prevent thetransmission of data in the case of every data transmission to the bussystem that was not initiated by said subscriber itself. A LIN bussystem is employed as the bus system.

German patent application DE 101 47 446 A1 also describes a method and adevice for monitoring a bus system having at least two subscribers, ofwhich at least one is configured as an authorized subscriber, and itmonitors the data transmission to the bus system, whereby, an identifieris transmitted with every data transmission to the bus system, and thisidentifier can be unambiguously associated with a subscriber. If thedata transmission is initiated by an entity other than an authorizedsubscriber, the execution of the data to be transmitted is prevented. ALIN bus system is employed here as well.

German patent application DE 197 56 918 A1 describes a communicationcontrol device in which a master station transmits a batch transmissionframe to a plurality of slave stations, and individual response framesare transmitted from the slave stations to the master station.

DE 689 20 028 T2 describes a method and a device that allows multipleaccess with cyclical reservation in a communication system, wherebyaccess is provided to the transmission medium in the communicationnetwork with a unidirectional bus structure in a folded-busconfiguration or in a double-bus configuration and a plurality ofstations that are connected between the buses. The network comprises twounidirectional, opposite transmission buses and a plurality of stations,each of which is connected to the two buses. There is also a head endthat generates times slots at regular intervals on the buses, wherebyeach station requests access to a slot.

German patent application DE 34 24 866 A1 describes a method and anarrangement for the transmission of data, whereby the latter istransmitted in a time-division multiplex in digital form in a bussystem. The bus system consists of a central control unit, severalequivalent subscribing stations subordinated to the control unit, and atleast one data bus line that connects all of the subscribers.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for controllingbus-networked devices. The system includes a gateway, an open field buselectrically connected to the gateway, a first power supply unitelectrically connected to the gateway and configured to supply primarypower for the gateway and a plurality of bus subscribers, an auxiliarypower supply unit configured to supply auxiliary power for the pluralityof bus subscribers independent of bus functionality, and a pluggableconnection cable configured to electrically connect the gateway to theplurality of bus subscribers and configured to transmit the primary andthe auxiliary power and at least one of control information and statusinformation between the gateway and the plurality of bus subscribers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elaborated upon in the embodiments below, makingreference to the drawings. These show the following:

FIG. 1 illustrates three typical hardware components of a system by wayof an example;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart to depict the system test and the taking over of anew target configuration of the connected devices on the applicationbus;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are block diagrams of the application bus system;

FIG. 4A to 4C illustrate three configurations of bus subscribers; and

FIG. 5 is a system consisting of a gateway, bus subscribers and a powermodule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention to simplify asystem and a method for controlling bus-networked devices with a gatewayvia an open field bus in such a way that there is no need forcomplicated wiring and the user can check, configure and, in case oferror messages, re-start the system with minimal operating effort.

In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, in that onesingle pluggable connection line is provided within the system forconnecting bus subscribers and the gateway, and for transmitting controland/or status data as well as power. In a method according to anembodiment of the invention, the gateway does not expect a bussubscriber in the initial target configuration, and a configuration modeis started in the gateway for purposes of taking over at least one bussubscriber and for generating a new target configuration with the atleast one bus subscriber. In a switching device according to anembodiment of the invention, the switching device has at least onecontrol input for querying an upstream switching device as a bussubscriber and/or for querying a gateway (20), and said switching devicealso has a control output for selecting a downstream switching device asanother bus subscriber.

Therefore, an embodiment of the invention relates to a system with whichactuators as bus subscribers, preferably industrial switching devicessuch as, for example, power switches or combinations of motor circuitbreakers and contactors, are data-technically networked via anapplication bus system, here preferably via a LIN bus, with the aim ofcontrolling and monitoring the connected industrial switching devices.The system has at least one gateway that is installed between an openfield bus and actuators. The single pluggable connection line connectsthe individual bus subscribers or actuators among each other and to thegateway. It serves to transmit data, namely, control and/or status data,and to transmit power to supply the bus subscribers and, if applicable,other components of the system. Advantageously, the gateway is arrangedbetween the open field bus and the connection line, and it hasconnection devices for connecting with the field bus as well as forconnecting the mains voltage and the connection line. Numerous functionsthat will be elaborated upon below can be carried out via the gateway.

Special advantages of the system and method according to an embodimentof the invention are that the control wiring to the industrial switchingdevices is replaced by a pluggable and easily installed line connectionsystem. Complicated and error-prone installations of the control wiringare eliminated and the use of cable conduits needed for laying the linesas well as the installation of the conduits are dispensed with.

Such wiring comprises the control lines, here preferably for acontactor, the line for switching the contactor on and off, and thestatus lines, here, for instance, for querying the switching position ofthe contactor or the status of a motor circuit breaker (ON/tripped).

Naturally, it is also possible to connect complex devices as actuatorsor bus subscribers that can exchange a great deal of information anddata. Such devices can be, for example, industrial switching devicessuch as power switches, electronic motor-protection relays or frequencyconverters.

The system for controlling bus-networked devices with a gateway via anopen field bus can have the following features, either individually orin combination with each other. In particular, a bus controller isprovided here for monitoring the gateway. The gateway itselfadvantageously has at least one interface to the open field bus, atleast one interface to an application bus for controlling and queryingat least one actuator or bus subscriber located on the application busand at least one data output for the communication with at least one bussubscriber. It has also proven to be advantageous for the gateway tohave at least one memory unit for permanently storing a busconfiguration that can be written by a bus controller and for storingthe present bus configuration of the application bus.

Moreover, it has proven to be advantageous for the gateway to compriseat least a first feed bushing to provide primary supply voltage and atleast a second feed bushing to provide auxiliary voltage that can beconducted or that is conducted to the bus subscribers. The gateway canalso be connectable or connected to at least one control line to addressthe first bus subscriber.

It has also proven to be advantageous for the gateway to have at leastone status display to show the operating states of bus subscribers andof the bus communication, and/or the at least one bus subscriber has atleast one display to show its own operating status. As a result, it ispossible to visually check the proper operation of the system at alltimes.

Furthermore, the gateway advantageously has at least one actuationelement for starting a bus configuration of the bus subscribersconnected via the application bus. In this configuration, in otherwords, in the configuration mode, the gateway checks via an applicationbus how many bus subscribers are connected to the application bus,whereby the bus subscribers are advantageously numbered consecutively.In this context, each bus subscriber can store its specificidentification number, and/or the gateway can store the identificationnumbers in a non-volatile manner. As a result, no data loss occurs, evenif the system is switched on again after it has been switched off, sothat the operation can resume without a need for additional measuresafter being switched on. Advantageously, once all of the bus subscribershave been ascertained, this configuration can be stored or is stored inthe gateway (20) as the target configuration, and control data and/orstatus data can be exchanged or is exchanged between the gateway and thebus subscribers.

As far as the at least one bus subscriber or actuator is concerned, ithas proven to be advantageous for it to have at least one control inputfor querying an upstream bus subscriber and/or the gateway, and it has acontrol output for selecting a downstream bus subscriber. Moreover, itcan encompass at least one control and programming unit for implementingthe bus communication and the functionality of the actuator application.

For the current supply or the supply with power, the at least one bussubscriber can have a device for connection to the mains voltage.Moreover, it advantageously has at least one device to loop through thedata stream and/or the auxiliary voltage to a downstream bus subscriberor actuator and/or to relay the auxiliary voltage to an actuatorapplication.

Advantageously, the at least one bus subscriber has at least one deviceto carry out actuator actions and/or at least one device to reportactuator actions and/or actuator positions on the application bus, sothat communication about the actuator positions and actuator actions ispossible via the application bus.

The at least one bus subscriber advantageously also has at least onedevice to write an identification number via the gateway. This makes itpossible to check the number of bus subscribers connected to theapplication bus. In this context, the bus subscribers are advantageouslynumbered consecutively. Each individual bus subscriber stores thespecific identification number in a non-volatile manner, that is to say,the specific identification number is once again available when thesystem is switched back on after having been switched off and is notlost because the system was switched off. All of the identificationnumbers are advantageously likewise stored in the gateway in anon-volatile manner.

The application bus can be a LIN bus with which the control and/orstatus data and the handling of the configuration of the application buscan be handled or is handled via a protocol which, in particular,consists of LIN data frames with data lengths of 1 to 8 bytes.Fundamentally, a different structure with, for example, other datalengths is also possible.

A possible application bus configuration can be permanently written inthe gateway. It is likewise possible for the bus controller to overwritean application bus configuration that has been written.

As far as the bus subscribers or actuators are concerned, according toan embodiment of the invention, it is assumed that at least one actuatorcan be an electric switching device. In this context, an actuator canespecially be a combination of motor circuit breakers and contactors.

Advantageously, a plug-in module is provided that can have, on the onehand, the actuator properties and, on the one hand, at least onemechanical display to show actuator positions and/or at least onedisplay for its own operating status. As a result, the actuatorpositions that can be added to the actuators, in other words, especiallyswitching devices, can be displayed by the plug-in module. Instead ofhaving to retrofit the switching devices, it is sufficient to add tothem a plug-in module that can also have appropriate plug-in connectorsto connect the connection line.

Moreover, the plug-in module can have at least one digital input for theconnection of a potential-free switching contact. This is also suitable,for instance, for an auxiliary switch to query the position of the motorcircuit breaker in a combination of motor circuit breakers andcontactors.

The plug-in module can advantageously have at least one circuitinterruptor for the actuator. Such a circuit interruptor can beemployed, for example, to electrically lock a reversing starter.

When a plug-in module is arranged on a combination of motor circuitbreakers and contactors, it can advantageously switch the auxiliaryvoltage to the contactor coil. The above-mentioned other features ofsuch a plug-in module can also be advantageously provided, precisely inthe case of such a combination of motor circuit breakers and contactors.

The system can also be configured in such a way that a power module isinterconnected in the series of bus subscribers or between them, saidpower module looping through the data stream to the next bus subscriberand/or not looping through the auxiliary voltage. The interconnection ofa power module interrupts the “linear” power supply from one bussubscriber to another. The data connection and the primary voltagebetween the bus subscriber located upstream from the power module andthe bus subscriber located downstream from the power module, however, islooped through. With the interconnected power module, a new feed isimplemented for the subsequent bus subscriber. Advantageously, anexternal voltage source is thus provided that supplies the power modulewith an auxiliary voltage that is transferred to the next bussubscriber. Moreover, the power module advantageously has at least onedisplay to show the presence of the external auxiliary voltage. As aresult, the fact that the auxiliary voltage has been applied to thepower module and thus to the at least one subsequent bus subscriber canbe checked.

Advantageously, at least one bus subscriber or actuator has a mechanicaldisplay to show actuator positions so that these can also be read offwithout current and problem-free.

At least one sensor can be arranged in the series of bus subscribers forpurposes of detecting physical quantities.

In the method for controlling bus-networked devices especially inindustrial switching circuits with a gateway via an open field busaccording to an embodiment of the invention, a configuration modeadvantageously runs once the actuation element has been actuated.

The figures show the presented system and the associated method fordata-technical networking in the example of combinations of motorcircuit breakers and contactors. The subject matter of the application,however, is not to be limited by the depiction of a combination of motorcircuit breakers and contactors, that is also referred to as motorstarter, and shown by way of an example.

FIG. 1A shows a gateway 20, FIG. 1C shows a bus subscriber in the formof a plug-in module 40 on a combination of motor circuit breakers andcontactors, and FIG. 1B shows a power module 50, also referred to as PM,as typical hardware components of a system by way of an example.

The gateway 20 has an interface to a superordinated control system, forinstance, to an open field bus 2 (see FIG. 3A) such as a Profibus DP,Device Net or CANopen or the like, by means of which it is networked indata-technical terms to the superordinated field bus system. The bussubscribers N1 to Nn that are networked on an application bus 10 andthat are used as industrial switching devices are controlled by thegateway 20 via a flat ribbon cable 8 that is likewise shown in FIG. 3A.The gateway 20 has a first feed device 24 for the connection of a powersupply unit 14 for its own electronics and for the electronics of thebus subscribers, as well as a second feed device 25 for the connectionof a power supply unit 16 of the bus subscribers. The power supply unit16 is auxiliary voltage for the actuator actions of the bus subscribers,whereby here, for example, the voltage or current is supplied to thecombinations of motor circuit breakers and contactors. The gateway 20has at least one light-emitting diode 28 that serves to display thestatus of operating states of the gateway and of the bus communication.The gateway 20 also has a configuration button 27 that serves to startthe automatic bus configuration of the bus subscribers; in the gateway20, there is at least one memory module that is employed to permanentlystore the bus configuration.

The plug-in module 40 shown in FIG. 1C, which is also referred to as SM,is used for a combination of motor circuit breakers and contactors, saidmodule being mechanically and electrically adapted to the contactor. Theplug-in module 40 has two pin contacts 49 that serve to establish theelectric connection to a contactor coil. This plug-in module takes overthe control wiring. This is how the contactor coil is electricallyactuated and the contactor switching position is electrically queried.There is also the possibility to query an electrically potential-freecontact insofar as or to the extent that such a contact is present.Aside from the electric functions, the plug-in module 40 also has aswitching position display 46 that mechanically—visible to theoperator—displays the switching position. The plug-in module 40 alsocomprises the following features:

it applies the auxiliary voltage 16 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) to thecontactor coil;

it displays the mechanical switching position display 46 to showactuator positions;

it has a display 48 for its own operating status;

it has a digital input 44 for the connection of a potential-freeswitching contact; and

it has a circuit interruptor 45 for the actuator.

Such a circuit interruptor 45 for the actuator can be used, for example,to electrically lock a reversing starter.

The application bus 10 is operated by means of the above-mentionedmultiwire flat ribbon cable 8—six-wire in this case (see FIGS. 3A and3B). Starting from the gateway 20, the line 8 extends or is laid fromone bus subscriber to the next via connection plugs. For each bussubscriber Nx, there are two sockets 41, 42 in the plug-in module 40that serve to plug in the flat ribbon cable 8 on the bus input side andon the bus output side. Due to the linear arrangement of thesubscribers, the last bus subscriber Nn does not have a plugged-in flatribbon cable 8 on the output side as a connection line; the output side(socket 42) of the bus subscriber remains “empty”.

Each bus subscriber has a status display 28, 48, 58 that serves todisplay the device status, preferably visually as an LED. The plug-inmodule 40 and the power module 50 of each bus subscriber Nx has atwo-pole terminal 44, 45, 54, 55 to which a potential-free contact canbe connected, for instance, for an auxiliary switch in order to querythe position of the motor circuit breaker.

FIG. 5 shows additional details of the system. Three lines L1, L2, L3 ofthe mains connection and the load M are shown on the first bussubscriber N1, which is configured here by way of an example as acombination of motor circuit breakers and contactors. Moreover, a motorcircuit breaker is shown in the upper half of the bus subscribersdesignated here as N1, N2, N3 to Nn, while the plug-in module 40 withits sockets 41, 42 and 43 plugged onto a contactor and the mechanicaldisplay 48 for the contact position of the contactor are shown in thelower half. The depiction according to FIG. 5 can be understood as anapplication bus 10 having n subscribers into which the power module 50shown in FIG. 5 can optionally be inserted. A more detailed explanationof the power module 50 will follow below.

FIG. 2A shows a flowchart depicting a system test and FIG. 2B shows aflowchart for taking over a new target configuration. The flowcharts ofthe two figures make a transition to each other.

In the first step in FIG. 2A, the requirement is made for the voltage onthe gateway to be switched on. In the next step, the gateway checkswhether a subscriber can be reached on the bus. If this question isanswered with “yes”, it is subsequently queried whether the subscriberis expected at the gateway. If this question can likewise be answeredwith “yes”, the subscriber is configured by the gateway in a subsequentstep. Then the gateway selects the next subscriber via the configuredsubscriber. Subsequently, the gateway once again checks whether asubscriber can be reached on the bus and the query loop is thus closed.If this question is answered with “no” already at the beginning or atthis point in time, the next question is asked as to whether asubscriber is expected by the gateway. If this question is likewiseanswered with “no”, then the situation is such that no subscriber ispresent, which is prescribed as the target configuration. Therefore, itis ascertained that the configuration of the gateway bus is correct andthe system is ready for operation, since the target configuration is thesame as the actual configuration. This is why this state is indicated byan LED display (“status LED on”).

If the question as to whether a subscriber is expected by the gatewaywhen no subscriber can be reached on the bus is answered with “yes”, orif the question as to whether the subscriber is expected by the gatewaywhen it has been ascertained that the subscriber can be reached on thebus is answered with “no”, a configuration error is present, that is tosay, the gateway and bus are not ready for operation since the targetconfiguration is not the same as the actual configuration. This is whythis state is likewise indicated by an LED display (“status LED on”).The question as to whether a subscriber can be reached on the bus andwhether it is expected by the gateway, is run continuously as a loopuntil all of the subscribers expected by the gateway and written in theconfiguration have been detected.

Therefore, this results in two possibilities: the actual configurationis the same as the target configuration and the actual configuration isnot the same as the target configuration. In the first case, the systemis ready for operation and the status is shown with the continuous litstatus LED 28″. In the case where they are not the same, the status LED28″ blinks, as a result of which the operator is prompted to actuate theconfiguration button 27. Once the configuration button 27 has beenactuated, the present configuration is taken over as the targetconfiguration and the system goes on to the final checking (FIG. 2B).

In this process, each individual subscriber is queried by the gatewayand the parameters that might be present in the gateway are stored. Acheck is also carried out as to whether the maximum permissible numberof subscribers on the application bus has not been exceeded. Should thisbe the case, the gateway once again goes into error status since thetarget configuration is not the same as the actual configuration. Ifthis is not the case, the subscriber data is read out and stored in thegateway. Via the subscribers that have been reached, the gateway selectsthe next subscriber and checks for this one as well whether it can bereached. Once all of the subscribers have been detected, the gateway andthe subscribers go into the normal operating state in which the controldata or status data is exchanged between the gateway and thesubscribers. This configuration is permanently stored in the gateway asthe new target configuration.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show block diagrams of the bus control. FIG. 3A depictsthe gateway and a first bus subscriber N1, while FIG. 3B depicts a powermodule 50 inserted between a second and a third bus subscriber N2, N3 aswell as the bus subscriber N2. The inputs for the open field bus 2(plug-in connector or socket 23) and the power supply unit (primaryvoltage 14 or U1, GND, auxiliary voltage 16 or U2) are drawn on the feedside. U1 designates the power supply unit 14 for the electronics in thegateway as well as the bus subscriber, while U2 designates the auxiliaryvoltage 16 for the subscriber application. The output (socket 22) of thegateway leads to the 6-wire flat ribbon cable 8.

The power module (PM) 50 can optionally be interconnected in the linearseries of subscribers (FIG. 3B). This is also schematically shown againin FIG. 5. The interconnection of a power module interrupts the “linear”power supply from one subscriber to the next. The data connection andthe primary voltage 14 between the bus subscribers N1, N2, N3 locatedupstream from the power module and the bus subscriber Nn locateddownstream from the power module is looped through.

With the power module PM 50 installed in the bus multiconductor, a newfeed is implemented for the subsequent bus subscribers (group G) in thebus series; for this purpose, the power module is connected to a powersupply unit 16′, for instance, 24 volt DC. The drawing in FIG. 3B showsthe power supply unit 16′ coming from below (relative to the drawingpage) and, in FIG. 5, coming from above (relative to the drawing page).This power supply unit can be, for instance, a contactor supply for agroup of bus subscribers that are supposed to function as their ownemergency-OFF group. The power module has screwed terminals or sockets54, 55 for the power feed 16′. For the rest, the power module—like theother bus subscribers—has two sockets 51, 52, one of which being theinput and the other being the output for the connection plug system. Bythe same token, the power module is provided with a status display 58,especially for visual display via an LED showing whether the feedvoltage 16′ is being applied to the group G of the bus subscribers thatare downstream from the power module.

With the presented system, it is no longer necessary to createconventional control wiring for networked industrial switching devices.Particularly in the case of combinations of motor circuit breakers andcontactors, the networking is done with a single pluggable connectionline. The connection line 8 transfers control data or status data on theone hand, and the requisite power for the switching devices on the otherhand. Moreover, the use of the above-mentioned power modules makes itpossible to form groups of bus subscribers, as a result of which aseparate power supply and power monitoring of such a group can beachieved. The group formation can be utilized, for example, to set up acertain segment or a certain circuit in which the switching devices forma separate emergency-OFF group, in that these can be monitored andconnected or disconnected. As mentioned, the power modules can beoptionally employed.

The function and mode of operation of the system are depicted on thebasis of FIGS. 4A to 4C. In the drawing, a while circle with thedesignation 28″ and 48″ is a lit LED, while a black circle without anyfurther designation is an unlit LED 28, 48, and a circle with raysaround it with the designation 28′ and 48′ is a blinking LED.

The gateway 20 is the central element for the connection to the systemof the open field bus 2. The bus subscribers N1 to Nx are supplied withpower, controlled and monitored by the gateway, which also transmitscontrol and status data of all connected bus subscribers to thesuperordinated field bus 2. The gateway is firstly connected to thepower supply unit 14 for its own electronics and secondly to the powersupply unit 16, which supplies the bus subscribers. With thisconfiguration of the power supply unit, the auxiliary voltage 16 for bussubscribers (for instance, voltage to the contactor coils) can beswitched off independently of the bus functionality (e.g. emergency-OFFsystem).

By means of the plug-in connector system of the 6-wire flat ribbon 8provided here, the bus subscribers such as, for instance, combinationsof motor circuit breakers and contactors, can be connected to plug-inmodules consecutively. If the primary voltage 14 is being switched onfor the first time after the system has been set up, then the gateway 20checks the connected bus subscribers N1 to Nx on the application bussystem, as already explained above in conjunction with FIGS. 2A and 2B.In the initial situation, an arrangement without bus subscribers isprovided as the target configuration. This situation is then updatedafter the individual bus subscribers have been integrated, as alreadydescribed above.

In FIG. 4A, n bus subscribers are wired in an initial targetconfiguration, that is to say, without bus subscribers. In this context,the gateway 20 at first expects no bus subscribers on the basis of thetarget configuration. This is why, due to the configuration error, thegateway goes into error status and this is visually displayed on thegateway 20 by a blinking LED 28′ (top right in the corner of the gateway20 shown in FIG. 4A). The control LED on the first bus subscriber N1,which is directly connected to the gateway via the connection line 8, islikewise blinking (LED 48′) since this was not expected by the gateway.All of the other status or control LEDs 48 of the other bus subscribersN2 to Nx are not lit, in other words, they are switched off.

According to FIG. 4B, the configuration button 27 is pushed in order totake over the connected bus subscribers at the gateway 20 as the targetconfiguration. Then, by means of the application bus 10, the gatewayconsecutively checks how many bus subscribers (N1 to Nx) are connectedto the application bus 10. In this process, the bus subscribers arenumbered consecutively. Each individual bus subscriber stores thespecific identification number in a non-volatile manner, that is to say,the specific identification number is once again available when thesystem is switched on again after having been switched off and thisnumber is not lost as a result of the system having been switched off.All identification numbers are likewise stored in a non-volatile mannerin the gateway. After this procedure, all of the connected bussubscribers are configured. The LED 28″ on the gateway and the LEDs 48″on the bus subscribers are all statically switched on and lit.

FIG. 4B also depicts the situation in which, upstream from the gateway,the system is electrically switched off and once again switched on interms of the primary voltage 14. After the system is switched on, thegateway checks all of the connected bus subscribers consecutively andcompares them one step at a time with the internally stored targetconfiguration. In the described situation, the target situation matchesthe connected subscriber configuration (actual situation), since it isunchanged. Thus the system remains ready for operation.

The individual bus subscribers can now be actuated and monitored bymeans of the bus controller of the superordinated open field bus 2. Ifthe structure of the connected devices changes, for example, if devicesare expanded or removed, this is detected by the gateway on the basis ofthe diverging target-actual configuration and indicated by the statusLED 28.

FIG. 4C shows an example of an existing configuration of a gateway 20and n bus subscribers N1 to Nx that is ready for operation after havingbeen configured. If this structure is augmented by one or more bussubscribers (Nin), this results in the following scenario after thesystem is switched on: the gateway status LED 28′ is blinking becausethe previous target configuration (n bus subscribers) deviates from theactual configuration (n+1 bus subscribers). Moreover, the LED 48′ of thefirst added (also in case of several added) bus subscribers Nin is alsoblinking because this or these bus subscriber(s) was/were not expectedby the gateway. In this manner, the user can very easily recognize onthe basis of the blinking LEDs where the deviation of the actualconfiguration is present. By simply pushing the configuration button 27,the new configuration is automatically taken over by the gateway. Afterthe automatic bus configuration has run, one would have now the samesituation for n+x bus subscribers as was shown in FIG. 4B for nsubscribers.

FIG. 5 shows the use of at least one power module 50 to form a group Gof bus subscribers. The bus subscribers—here the plug-in module on thecombination of motor circuit breakers and contactors—located downstreamfrom the power module are cut off from the auxiliary power supply unit16 for the subscriber application, this is done by the power module, andauxiliary voltage 16′ is newly fed to the subscriber application. Theapplication bus 10 is looped through data-technically and in terms ofthe primary power supply unit 14 for the electronics of the bussubscriber at a ratio of 1:1 in the power module. When the auxiliaryvoltage 16′ fed into the power module is switched off, the bussubscribers, for instance, contactors, are current-free downstream fromthe power module. The electronics of the bus subscribers, however,continue to be supplied with power and therefore continue to transmit tothe gateway the current actuator status, for instance, contact status ofthe motor starter.

The use of the power modules has an advantageous effect in thatindependent groups of combinations of motor circuit breakers andcontactors can be formed, e.g. an emergency-OFF switching circuit thatcan be separately switched off. The use of power modules can take placeat any desired place in the connection plug system. Several powermodules can also be built into the connection plug system, so thatseveral independent groups of bus subscribers are formed.

The above-mentioned features of the system and its components can beprovided individually or in combination with each other. Aside from thedescribed embodiment variants, numerous others are also possible inwhich a single connection line is provided within the system in order toconnect bus subscribers to the gateway and in order to transmit controland/or status data and power.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   2 open field bus-   8 connection line (for example, 6-wire flat ribbon line)-   10 application bus (LIN bus)-   N1 to Nn−x bus subscribers (actuator, motor starter, power switch-   14, 14′ primary voltage (24 volt DC)-   16, 16′ auxiliary voltage (24 volt DC)-   20 gateway-   22 socket of the gateway-   23 sockets for the open field bus-   24 primary voltage feed (screw-in terminals)-   25 auxiliary voltage feed (screw-in terminals)-   27 configuration button-   28 status LED-   40 SM plug-in module-   41, 42 socket for connection plug on flat ribbon cable-   44, 45 socket for power supply unit-   46 mechanical display-   48 control LED-   49 pins for arrangement on contactor in a motor starter-   50 power module PM-   51, 52 sockets for connection plugs on flat ribbon cable-   54, 55 socket for power supply unit-   58 control LED-   L1, L2, L3 mains connection for bus subscribers (actuator)-   M load (motor) on main voltage

1-37. (canceled)
 38. A system for controlling bus-networked devices, thesystem comprising: a gateway; an open field bus electrically connectedto the gateway; a first power supply unit electrically connected to thegateway and configured to supply primary power for the gateway and aplurality of bus subscribers; an auxiliary power supply unit configuredto supply auxiliary power for the plurality of bus subscribersindependent of bus functionality; and a pluggable connection cableconfigured to electrically connect the gateway to the plurality of bussubscribers and configured to transmit the primary and the auxiliarypower and at least one of control information and status informationbetween the gateway and the plurality of bus subscribers.
 39. The systemaccording to claim 38, wherein the gateway is disposed between the openfield bus and the connection cable, and wherein the gateway includes aplurality of connection devices configured to electrically connect tothe open field bus, a mains voltage, and the connection cable.
 40. Thesystem according to claim 38, wherein the pluggable connection cableincludes an application bus, and wherein the gateway comprises: at leastone interface electrically connected to the open field bus; at least oneinterface electrically connected to the application bus and configuredto control and query at least one of the plurality of bus subscribersconnected to the application bus; and at least one data outputconfigured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of bussubscribers.
 41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the at leastone of the plurality of bus subscribers includes an actuator.
 42. Thesystem according to claim 38, further comprising a bus controllerelectrically connected to the open field bus and configured to monitorthe gateway.
 43. The system according to claim 38, wherein the pluggableconnection cable includes an application bus, and wherein the gatewayincludes at least one memory unit configured to permanently store a busconfiguration that can be written by a bus controller and to store apresent bus configuration of the application bus.
 44. The systemaccording to claim 38, wherein the gateway comprises: at least a firstfeed bushing configured to electrically connect to the first powersupply unit; at least a second feed bushing configured to electricallyconnect to the auxiliary power supply unit.
 45. The system according toclaim 38, wherein the gateway is electrically connected to at least onecontrol line configured to address a first bus subscriber of theplurality of bus subscribers.
 46. The system according to claim 38,wherein the gateway includes at least one status display configured toshow operating states of the plurality of bus subscribers and of buscommunication.
 47. The system according to claim 38, wherein at leastone of the plurality of bus subscribers includes a status displayconfigured to show an operating status of the at least one of theplurality of bus subscribers.
 48. The system according to claim 38,wherein the pluggable connection cable includes an application bus, andwherein the gateway includes at least one actuation element configuredto start a bus configuration of the plurality of bus subscribersconnected via the application bus.
 49. The system according to claim 38,wherein at least one of the plurality of bus subscribers includes atleast one control input configured to query at least one of an upstreambus subscriber and the gateway, and a control output configured toselect a downstream bus subscriber.
 50. The system according to claim38, wherein at least one of the plurality of bus subscribers includes atleast one control and programming unit configured to implement buscommunication and application of an actuator.
 51. The system accordingto claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality of bus subscribersincludes a device configured to connect to a mains voltage.
 52. Thesystem according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality ofbus subscribers includes at least one data loop device configured toloop through at least one of a data stream and auxiliary voltage of theauxiliary power supply unit to at least one of a downstream bussubscriber and an actuator.
 53. The system according to claim 38,wherein at least one of the plurality of bus subscribers includes atleast one voltage relay device configured to relay auxiliary voltage ofthe auxiliary power supply unit to an actuator application.
 54. Thesystem according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality ofbus subscribers includes at least one device configured to carry outactuator actions.
 55. The system according to claim 38, wherein thepluggable connection cable includes an application bus, and wherein atleast one of the plurality of bus subscribers includes at least onereport device configured to report at least one of an actuator actionand an actuator position on the application bus.
 56. The systemaccording to claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality of bussubscribers includes at least one write device configured to write anidentification number via the gateway.
 57. The system according to claim38, wherein the application bus is a Local Interconnect Network (LIN)bus, and wherein the transmission of the control information and thestatus information, and the configuration of the application bus ishandled via a protocol that includes LIN data frames, the LIN dataframes having a length of at least one byte and not more than 8 bytes.58. The system according to claim 43, wherein an application busconfiguration is permanently stored in the memory.
 59. The systemaccording to claim 59, wherein the bus controller is configured tooverwrite the application bus configuration stored in the memory. 60.The system according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the pluralityof bus subscribers includes an electric switching device.
 61. The systemaccording to claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality of bussubscribers includes a combination of motor circuit breakers andcontactors.
 62. The system according to claim 38, wherein at least oneof the plurality of bus subscribers includes a plug-in module having atleast one mechanical display configured to show an actuator position.63. The system according to claim 38, wherein at least one of theplurality of bus subscribers includes a plug-in module having at leastone display configured to show an operating status.
 64. The systemaccording to claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality of bussubscribers includes a plug-in module having at least one digital inputconfigured to connect to a potential-free switching contact.
 65. Thesystem according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the plurality ofbus subscribers includes a plug-in module having at least one circuitinterruptor for an actuator.
 66. The system according to claim 62,wherein the plug-in module is connected to a combination of motorcircuit breakers and contactors.
 67. The system according to claim 66,wherein the plug-in module is configured to switch auxiliary voltage ofthe auxiliary power supply unit to a contactor coil.
 68. The systemaccording to claim 38, further comprising a power module electricallyconnected between an upstream bus subscriber and a downstream bussubscriber, the power module looping through a data stream from theupstream bus subscriber to the downstream bus subscriber but not loopingthrough an auxiliary supply voltage of the auxiliary power supply unitfrom the upstream bus subscriber to the downstream bus subscriber. 69.The system according to claim 68, further comprising an external voltagesource electrically connected to the power module and configured tosupply the power module with a second auxiliary voltage that istransferred to the downstream bus subscriber.
 70. The system accordingto claim 69, wherein the power module includes at least one displayconfigured to show a presence of the second auxiliary supply voltage.71. The system according to claim 38, wherein at least one of theplurality of bus subscribers includes an actuator and a mechanicaldisplay configured to show an actuator position.
 72. The systemaccording to claim 38, further comprising at least one sensor connectedto the plurality of bus subscribers and configured to detect physicalquantities.
 73. A method for controlling bus-networked devices in asystem comprising a gateway, an open field bus electrically connected tothe gateway, and a pluggable connection cable electrically connectingthe gateway to a plurality of bus subscribers, the method comprising:starting, by the gateway, a configuration mode to control a bussubscriber and to generate a new target configuration including the bussubscriber, wherein, according to an initial target configuration, thebus subscriber is not expected by the gateway.
 74. The method accordingto claim 73, further comprising determining, by the gateway in theconfiguration mode, an identification number for each of the pluralityof bus subscribers connected to an application bus included in thepluggable connection cable, wherein the plurality of bus subscribershave consecutive identification numbers.
 75. The method according toclaim 74, further comprising storing, by each of the plurality of bussubscribers, a specific identification number associated with the bussubscriber in a non-volatile manner.
 76. The method according to claim74, further comprising storing, by the gateway, the identificationnumbers in a non-volatile manner.
 77. The method according to claim 73,further comprising: storing a new target configuration in the gatewayafter the configuration mode is complete and each of the plurality ofbus subscribers connected to the application bus has been identified;and exchanging at least one of control data and status data between thegateway and the plurality of bus subscribers.
 78. A switching deviceconfigured to be activated by a system comprising a gateway, an openfield bus electrically connected to the gateway, and a pluggableconnection cable electrically connecting the gateway to a plurality ofbus subscribers, the switching device comprising: at least one controlinput for querying at least one of a gateway and an upstream switchingdevice as a first bus subscriber; and a control output configured toselect a downstream switching device as a second bus subscriber, whereinthe switching device is configured to be actuated via an open field buselectrically connected to the gateway.
 79. The switching deviceaccording to claim 78, further comprising at least one control andprogramming unit configured to implement bus communication and actuatorapplication.
 80. The switching device according to claim 78, furthercomprising at least one device configured to write an identificationnumber via the gateway.